Sunday, February 19, 2012

Almagro vs Volandri advance to Brazil Open final

Almagro vs Volandri advance to Brazil Open final

Nicolas Almagro made it past Albert Ramos 6-4, 7-6 to reach the Brasil Open final.

Almargo will next face Filippo Volandri, who eliminated Thomaz Bellucci 5-7, 6-0, 6-2.

“Ramos is a great player, he knows how to defend well,” Almagro said. “He has a great serve, but gladly I’ve been serving well too recently.”

Almagro has a chance to become the most successful player in Brazil with three titles. It would be his 11th ATP Tour title.

It is the eighth straight time a Spaniard has made it to the Brazil Open final, and they have five wins.

Bellucci won the first set against Volandri but couldn’t keep up with the Italian at the end despite the support from the crowd.

Volandri had 18 break opportunities, converting on six of them.

The match was even until Volandri broke Bellucci at 2-2 in the third set, taking control from then on as the Brazilian became exhausted.

“I was very tired, I couldn’t even see the ball during some points,” Bellucci said. “I had pain in my entire body. I kept telling myself not to give up and keep fighting until the end, but I couldn’t do it today.”

The match lasted 2 hours, 33 minutes, just three minutes less than Bellucci’s quarterfinal against Leonardo Mayer.

“(Friday’s) match was very tough and I couldn’t recover for today,” Bellucci said.